WHY WE BLEEP 017: ADRIAN UTLEY

 
Adrian Utley

Today we meet Portishead guitarist, vintage synth aficionado, and all-round top fellow Adrian Utley. In his home studio in Bristol we sat down for a sprawling conversation about making music, his incredible synth collection, favourite soundtracks, outboard gear and much more besides.

An vast array of links to things we discuss is below.

Thanks to episode sponsors http://signalsounds.com and http://obsidiansound.net

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If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a share! Then queue up our recent episode talking live performance and gear with Ian Williams of Battles: https://www.whywebleep.com/whywebleep/2019/battles

OMG LINKS!

Squarepusher making music in 1996 like it’s 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96PfTcGHZ4Q

Big Loada EP: https://warp.net/releases/115781-squarepusher-big-loada (Note: All made on a DR660, and Akai S950 with 1.5mb sample RAM).

Adrian Utley/Arturia Minibrute Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X614aeTzq7k

Adrian Utley Synth Tour Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT0l-OsGpgA

Dummy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dummy_(album)

Spendor Speakers: https://www.spendoraudio.com/classic-loudspeakers/

KEF Speakers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KEF

Tannoy Speakers Little Red/Little Gold: https://audionostalgia.co.uk/tannoy-little-red-monitor-review

UDO Super 6: http://udo-audio.com/

David Vorhaus Quote: https://youtu.be/dUTdun0tFE8?t=2600 (Watch the whole thing)

Expressive-E Touche: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ra7t1JqXIw (Adrian interview video!)

Bernie Worrell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlOSWaLUBXI

Gary Numan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im3JzxlatUs

System 80 880: http://system80.net/product/880/

Billie Eilish: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Eilish

ASMR: https://www.vox.com/2015/7/15/8965393/asmr-video-youtube-autonomous-sensory-meridian-response

Apocalypse Now Soundtrack: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypse_Now

Bernie Krause: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Krause

The Beatles Abbey Road Album: https://www.thebeatles.com/album/abbey-road

Steiner Electronic Wind Instrument: https://www.patchmanmusic.com/NyleSteinerHomepage.html

Craig Leon Bach to Moog Film: https://youtu.be/4Rcw5GCXJnQ (I made this film)

Johann Sebastian Bach Inventions: http://www.mu.qub.ac.uk/tomita/essay/inventions.html

Wendy Carlos, Switched on Bach: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switched-On_Bach

Clockwork Orange Soundtrack: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clockwork_Orange_(soundtrack)

The Shining Soundtrack https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Shining-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack/release/528661

Krzysztof Penderecki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krzysztof_Penderecki

Melodyne: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celemony_Software

Glenn Gould on Switched on Bach: http://www.openculture.com/2019/08/glenn-gould-sings-the-praises-of-the-moog-synthesizer-and-wendy-carlos-switched-on-bach.html

Will Gregory Moog Ensemble https://willgregorymoogensemble.co.uk/

Make Noise Pressure Points: http://www.makenoisemusic.com/modules/pressure-points

Elektron Octatrack: https://www.elektron.se/products/octatrack-mkii/

Mysterons - Portishead: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dummy_(album)

Akai S1000: http://www.vintagesynth.com/akai/s1000.php

Atari ST: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_ST

Kate Bush - Hounds of Love: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hounds_of_Love

Basil Brooks - Zorch: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorch

Ed Williams: https://pinelectronics.com/2013/01/21/33/

Tubbutec Juno 66: https://tubbutec.de/juno-66/

Korg PS-3200 http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/ps3200.php

RDJ selling his PS-3300 (note the self portrait): http://www.spheremusic.com/Bargaindtl.asp?Item=16241

I dream of wires: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaQg7YG6UMho02t6JQQ0U1g

La Fabrique Studio: http://www.studioslafabrique.com/Introduction.html

Queen Multitracks: https://queenpoland.wordpress.com/download/queen-multitracks/

Universal Studios Fire (2008): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Universal_Studios_fire

Recording Stayin' Alive: https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-bee-gees-stayin-alive

1936 Gibson L5: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_L-5

Yamaha DX7 https://mn2s.com/news/features/brief-history-yamaha-dx7/

Moog Modular: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moog_synthesizer

Oberheim SEM: http://www.vintagesynth.com/oberheim/4voice.php

ARP 2600: https://www.korg.com/uk/products/synthesizers/arp2600_fs/ (OMG)

EMS VCS3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUbCbQIt58M

Moog Minimoog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLx_x5Fuzp4

Laurie Spiegel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Spiegel

Daniel Miller: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Miller_(music_producer)

Mutable Instruments, Warps, Rings https://mutable-instruments.net/modules/rings/

Make Noise LPG: http://www.makenoisemusic.com/modules/optomix

Craig Silvey: https://milocostudios.com/studios/toast/an-interview-with-craig-silvey/

Ursa Major Space Station: https://valhalladsp.com/2010/05/14/stability-through-time-variation-ursa-major-space-station/

Man Child https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-Child

Adrian interviewed by Gaz Williams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQr9HCahoLI

Strymon Bluesky: https://www.strymon.net/bluesky/

Korg MiniKorg 700: http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/mini700s.php

Vintage Synth Lab VCF74 https://www.modulargrid.net/e/vintage-synth-lab-vcf-74-mk2

Korg MS20: https://www.korg.com/uk/products/synthesizers/ms_20mini/

Arturia Mellotron V: https://www.arturia.com/products/analog-classics/mellotron-v/overview

UA 6176: https://www.uaudio.com/hardware/6176.html

UA 610: https://www.uaudio.com/uad-plugins/channel-strips/610-collection.html

BEL Delay: https://www.musictech.net/reviews/studio-icons-bel-digital-bd80/

Seck Mixer: http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/seck-model-1882-mixer/6336

Synclavier Demo Record (listen to 6:27!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcWLl8GlfvI

MPC60: http://www.vintagesynth.com/akai/mpc60.php

Bentley Rhythm Ace (Google the drum machine, not the band!)

Fleetwood Mac Rumours: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumours_(album)

Roland SPD-SX: https://www.roland.com/uk/products/spd-sx/

Arturia KeyStep: https://www.arturia.com/keystep/overview

Perfume Genius: https://perfumegenius.org/

Arturia CZ-V: https://www.arturia.com/products/analog-classics/cz-v/overview

Yamaha TX16W Sampler: http://www.polynominal.com/yamaha-tx16w/index.html

Syro Gear List: http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1661611&sid=80fdee1ea3682c509c8ac60114be3be1#p1661611

Triple X Snaxxx: https://triplexsnaxxx.bandcamp.com/

PHEW.

 
PodcastAlex Theakston